In July 2018, the Whiteside County Economic Development Department received a very interesting invitation for the region’s businesses involved in international trade. It was extended by Jose Murillo, the Consul General of Costa Rica in Chicago, IL, to companies involved in agribusiness, food processing and distribution, and specialized/advanced manufacturing. Such businesses are invited to participate in the Buyers Trade Mission Costa Rica 2018, held in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Tuesday, September 25, through Thursday, September 27, 2018.
According to Consul General Murillo, “This is one of the largest business conferences in Latin America….[It] can be the start of some mutually-beneficial trade relations between businesses in the Whiteside County/Northwest Illinois Region and Costa Rica and Latin America. We will provide one-on-one, personalized meetings with Costa Rica’s varied business sectors, networking opportunities, and accommodations for one representative of participating businesses. We want to connect…businesses with one another, and this is a very efficient way to do so.”
Businesses interested in learning more about the Buyers Trade Mission Costa Rica 2018 should contact Whiteside Economic Development Director Gary Camarano at gcamarano@whiteside.org or 815-772-5182.
Gary Camarano, Whiteside Economic Development Director, added, “Among our action items in my office is helping existing import/export businesses and import/export ‘ready’ businesses find new markets and customers. Trade Missions to established business conferences, like the Buyers Trade Mission Costa Rica 2018, can be very helpful in establishing profitable business relationships with new customers, or strengthening relationships with existing customers. The assistance Costa Rica is offering qualified businesses makes this a very intriguing opportunity.”
The World Fact Book notes that since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth–3.8% in 2017. From solid exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef, in the last 20 years, various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices, which are the Country’s number one export today. Costa Rica’s impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Import wise, Costa Rica imports raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, and construction materials.”
Hundreds of businesses met at the 2017 Buyers Trade Mission Costa Rica.
